US20090144881A1

US20090144881A1 - Work gloves with marking indicia

Info

Publication number: US20090144881A1
Application number: US12/001,419
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Harmik Panosian; Joshua Keeler; James Stobar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-12-10
Filing date: 2007-12-10
Publication date: 2009-06-11

Abstract

A portable work station is convertible between a collapsed condition suitable for storage and transport and an expanded condition suitable for use as a work bench. The work station includes a central panel serving as a work table or bench positionable in generally horizontal plane when the work station is expanded. The central panel defines two opposing generally parallel ends. Legs at one of the parallel ends are movable between collapsed conditions within the collapsed work station and generally vertical positions when the work station is expanded for use as a work bench or table. A storage device is provided at the other end of the parallel ends movable between a collapsed condition substantially in parallel planes with the work table or bench and an extended condition substantially normal to the work table or bench. The storage device includes storage compartments or bins for storing tools, hardware or the like in the expanded condition of the work station. Rolling members on the storage device transport the work station in its collapsed condition by rolling it along a generally horizontal surface.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to work gloves and, more specifically, to work gloves with marking indicia.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Work gloves have been extensively used in various trades, including the construction industry, where workers must physically lift and handle various items including items that may be abrasive, sharp, extremely hot or cold, etc. Work gloves have been designed to protect the hands of workers in all trades and do-it-yourselfers, where injury can result even while performing small projects. In order to address the wide range of potential injuries gloves have been designed to meet specialized needs. Where high temperatures are involved the gloves are provided with insulating materials to eliminate or reduce the flow of heat. Where electricity is involved, the gloves are designed to provide electrical insulation to minimize the flow of electrical currents. However, the gloves that have been used in the past have been designed with the limited function of protecting the user. Frequently, workers using such gloves, especially the construction trades, need to make rough measurements to estimate the dimensions of various building materials such as 2×4s, the diameters of pipes, the spacing between two adjacent members and the like. To do this, workers typically carry some form of scale, such as a metal tape measure. However, the worker is required to continually reach for the marking device, make a measurement and return the marking device to the tool belt, tool bag or the like. This is not only time-consuming but inconvenient and tedious.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide work gloves that bear marking indicia for making rough measurements without the need of ancillary tape measures or other measuring devices.
It is another object of the invention to provide work gloves as in the previous object which are simple in construction and economical to manufacture.
It is still another object of the invention to provide work gloves of the type under discussion exhibiting manufacturing costs that are substantially the same as manufacturing conventional work gloves.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide work gloves as in the last object which are easy and convenient to use and can provide generally accurate markings sufficient for many applications in the field.
It is a further object of the invention to provide work gloves that protect the hands of the user that can additionally be used to provide at least rough linear measurements, diameters of pipes and other small dimensions and spaces between objects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent when it is considered in detail in the below specification, taken with the drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of work gloves in accordance with the present invention, showing three different marking indicia.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing a photographic rendering of the work gloves shown FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the work gloves shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a worker wearing the work gloves according to the invention, illustrating measurements being made using an elongate marking scale or indicia on the gloves while holding the work in the form of a piece of lumber.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating a photographic rendering of the manner of use of the gloves.

FIG. 6 illustrates a measuring technique in which one of the marking indicia on the gloves is used to measure a diameter of a pipe being held with the other glove.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, in which the identical is similar parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout, and first referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a work glove in accordance with the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.
The glove 10 includes a main body part 12 dimensioned, as with conventional gloves, to receive the hands of the user. Integrally formed with the main body part 12 are elongate finger-receiving portions 13-17 to receive the fingers. The portion 13 is for receiving the thumb and the portion 14 for receiving the pointing finger. The portion 17 receives the user's pinky finger.
An important feature the invention is the provision of at least one but preferably a plurality of marking indicia for facilitating making at least rough measurements by a worker in the field. The specific nature of the marking indicia and positions the specific positions where with these are provided is not critical for purposes of the present invention. However, and by way of example only, the glove 10 of the presently preferred embodiment includes a scale 18 along the outer edge of the pointing finger portion 14 facing the thumb receiving portion 13. The scale 18 includes markers at 20 the specifics of which are a matter of design choice. In the embodiment illustrated, the scale 20 is an inch scale, although metric or other scales can clearly also be used. Similarly, an additional scale 22 is provided along the outer edge of the pinky receiving portion 17 and continuing along the main body portion 12. The scale 22 may be provided with indicia markers 23, 24 that can be the same as for the scale 18 or may differ from that scale. A smaller or shorter scale 26 is shown provided along the inner edge of the thumb-receiving portion 13, facing the portion 14, which is provided with indicia markers 28. Again, these may be the same or differ from the scales or markers used with the scales or rulers 18, 22.
Aside from the use of the rulers or scales 18, 22 and 26, the work gloves 10 may incorporate many of the same features of functions used in conventional work gloves to accommodate the specific needs of a worker on any specific project. The glove may, therefore, be specifically designed to protect the user from extreme temperatures by providing suitable insulations. The tips 30 at the ends of the finger receiving portions 13-17 may be provided with temperature insulating materials and/or electrical insulating materials. Additional pads 32 may be provided to protect the knuckles. A similar protective layer 34 may be provided for protecting the back of the user's hand and similar strips or layers of materials 42, 44 may be provided to protect the user's hand.
A conventional strap 36 of the work glove may be provided with hook and loop fastener materials 38, 40 to allow the glove to be securely attached to the worker's hands. As indicated, the specific construction of the glove will be designed to make the glove especially fit for a particular job or type of work, and these constructional features do not form part of the invention.
The gloves of the invention includes at least one or more rulers or scales arranged along exposed edges or regions of the glove so the ruler or scale can be used to make at least rough measurements in the field or on the job. It will be appreciated that in certain applications a worker needs to make at least rough measurements. For example, carpenters need to repetitively cut small sections of wood, framers who need to cut 2×4s in the field or plumbers who need to cut small sections of pipe. Prior to this invention, these workers needed to interrupt their work by grasping a ruler or tape measure, making the measurement and continuing with a cutting operation. An advantage of the present invention is that such workers need no longer interrupt their work to make such measurements. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, for example, there is illustrated a measurement on a 2×4, in which a small piece of the width needs to be removed. Instead of reaching for a ruler with tape measure, the worker simply places his flattened hands of the wood 46, so that the end marker 23 of the rule 22 is substantially aligned with the edge 48 of the wood 46. A worker can, now a, using a marking pencil 50, make a marking 52 on the wood. In FIG. 6, a worker is shown measuring the approximate diameter 56 of a pipe 54 by positioning the rule 18 across the end of the pipe.
The invention contemplates the use of at least one ruler or scale on a work glove. As suggested, however, more than one scale may be used and different markers or indicia may also be used. The specific positions are not critical as long as they enable a worker to make desired measurements.
While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that the there is no intention to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, it is the intention to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Work gloves comprising a main body part for receiving the hand of a user; at least one finger receiving portion for receiving an associated finger of the user, said at least one finger receiving portion defining at least one substantially linear edge; and indicia along said at least one linear edge, said indicia being in the form of a linear measurement scale, whereby said linear measurement scale can be aligned along a work for marking off dimensions on the work by using said measurement scale without removing the glove from the hand.

2. Work gloves as defined in claim 1, wherein a plurality of finger receiving portions are provided extending from said main body part, and indicia being provided along linear edges of at least two finger receiving portions.

3. Work gloves as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one substantially linear edge extends along a finger receiving portion and along an edge of said main body part.

4. Work gloves as defined in claim 1, wherein said measurement scale is arranged along an exterior side of the pinky finger.

5. Work gloves as defined in claim 1, wherein said measurement scale is arranged along the pointing or index finger.

6. Work gloves as defined in claim 1, wherein said measurement scale is arranged along the thumb.